CHRISTMAS 2017

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace good will toward men!”

What should be said about the peaceful outpouring of the love of Christ to mankind? Through this we are taught to no longer make war against ourselves or against others or against the angels, but to cooperate with them in divine works, according to our power, according to the Providence of Jesus, who performs all things in everyone, who brings the unutterable peace, foreordained from all eternity, and reconciles us to Himself and in Himself to the Father.Come, therefore, let us praise with hymns of peace the Divine Peace and Source of all unification. For this is the unifying power of all that engenders and brings about the concord and coming together of all things.

St. Dionysius the Areopagite

Within the unifying spirit that emanates from the Ecumenical Throneand the peace that Ecumenical Patriarch Batholomew proclaims to all,I wish you many years, with health and tranquility,

Protoprsebyter Stavros KofinasCoordinator of the Network of theEcumenical Patriarchate for Pastoral Health Care